Cooperative marketing groups have been created to allow small growers to efficiently supply both the domestic and export market. What's in season in January 2021, and other timely information: This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested in STATEXYZ! 1. In 2017/18, only 52% of households purchased blueberries. Production in southern Australia and Tasmania is also increasing. e.g. In 2004, the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, from Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border, produced over 75% of Australia’s blueberries on three major farms. Availability and costs of harvest labour are becoming an increasing problem in all regions. Blueberry production has increased from 5,500 tonnes in the year ending 2014 to 17,000 tonnes in the financial year ending June 2018. The majority of blueberries grown in Australia are for the domestic market. Net fruiting bushes with bird and bat friendly netting available from good garden and produce centres. There are still many Australians yet to try a blueberry. In southern Australia, most of the blueberry production is based in Victoria (mainly in the Yarra Valley) and in Tasmania. Planting & Soil Preparation for Blueberries: Use a premium quality, mineral-rich controlled release fertiliser suitable for acid loving plants such as a ‘Camellia and Azalea’ blend, As new varieties are released, a consistent supply of blueberries will be available throughout the season. Homemade blueberry jam makes a lovely gift, not to mention a delicious topping on toast. We find that we often need to close early or skip whole days or weeks when picking has been heavy, or the crop light, or the weather unfavourable for harvest. In recent times, machine packing has been used successfully, but the majority of Australian blueberries are packed through human sorting chains. Veggies:Beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, rhubarb, squash, sweet corn, tomato, … Blueberries were first introduced to Australia in the 1950s, but the effort was unsuccessful. This website has been funded by Hort Innovation using research and development levies from the Blueberry Fund, Strawberry Fund and Raspberry & Blackberry Fund, and funds from the Australian Government. This work was continued into the mid-1970s when the Australian Blueberry Growers' Association was formed. We started harvesting fruit in early November, and we'll continue to pick at least a punnet per day of fresh, organic berries from until April, a pretty good result from four plants that take up a measly six square metres of space. When choosing your wedding flowers, it’s not only about picking blooms that complement your choice of wedding outfit and overall wedding theme, but it’s also important to consider whether they’re even available. Sometimes flavour can be compromised but they are still available locally. The Oz Group, a cooperative of over 100 growers in this region, has now become a significant blueberry producer. You’d be surprised at the variety of produce in season available every month! Powered by WordPress and WordPress Theme created with Artisteer. Fresh flowers and fresh blueberry salads. Hint: give your blueberries enough time to ripen, wait until the fruit goes very dark and try a couple before harvesting. Prune out weak wood ensuring the centre of the plant is kept open. Make it when blueberries are in season and store. The season starts in December and ends in April. The major production area is on the NSW north coast. Blueberry rust was detected in the Melbourne metropolitan area towards the end of 2014. There are three main berry industries in Australia. In the early 1970s, the Victorian Department of Agriculture imported seed from the U.S. and a selection trial was started. When the berries are in season… The species comes under the genus Vaccinium which includes around 450 evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Blueberries can be found throughout the state, however the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula is covered with blueberry farms, so the u-pickers have quite a number of options. With a growing interest in organic produce from consumers, a significant percentage of members are now certified as Organic or Bio-Dynamic; particularly in Victoria. Blueberry season also means scarves and steaming-hot muffins. The table below shows when each fruit in the list is in season in Australia in general. Summer: December – February Fruit Michigan leads the nation in the production of high bush variety berries. The Blueberry Patch, Mount Compass, South Australia | Telephone: (08) 8556 9100 | Copyright © 2010 The Blueberry Patch. This varies for different varieties and can be determined based on the productivity of the plants. Fruit starts hard and green, softening as it ripens, attaining its distinctive blue-black colour with a coating of white bloom. They are packed full of antioxidants. The continuing development of new varieties, suited to specific climatic zones, is enabling the industry to dramatically expand production in areas outside of northern NSW, which will lead to more fruit being available outside of the traditional summer availability window. Blueberry cravings don’t follow a calendar. Soil must be acidic (with a pH of between 4.5 to 5.5), well drained and have high organic matter. Plantings began a decade later on the North Coast of New South Wales. Well, the same can be said for berries and currants and a little bit of maintenance work now will mean a bumper crop next season. Australian distribution. Bake delicious apple and pear pies for the fall and garnish your cocktails with pomegranate in the winter. In the present market environment, all blueberries produced in Australia can be sold for the best returns on the domestic market. I can't wait for blueberry season to begin each July. As new varieties are released, a consistent supply of blueberries will be available throughout the season. Growing berries in your garden is achievable for most gardeners, even those that are just starting out. General stuff Blueberries belong to the Ericaceae family, genus Vaccinium – a large family of woody shrubs that loves acidic soils and can be found throughout the world. © Copyright - Hort Innovation. Blueberry rust has been reported in Europe, Argentina, Asia, Mexico, Canada, the United States and Australia. Within the blueberry industry, ‘Pick Your Own’ and organic operations are trending. Challenging conditions that Australian blueberry growers face include drought, severe storms, water restrictions and extreme heat and fires. Good luck. This is a concern as blueberries often command a premium price over most other fresh berries and other processed fruit. The joys of nature! In southern Australia, most of the blueberry production is based in Victoria (mainly in the Yarra Valley) and in Tasmania. All blueberries travel in refrigerated trucks to ensure they arrive fresh to their destination. Blueberry rust has been present in parts of NSW and Queensland for many years. So it’s time to get your blueberry on! Blueberry season means long, hot summer days with icy-cold lemonade. Blueberries are grown from Queensland to Tasmania and in the south-west of Western Australia. Tailgates and blueberry guacamole. Varieties. The recipe can be doubled or tripled. Luckily for consumers, as the production continues to grow, prices are likley to stabilise making blueberries a more affordable weekly staple purchase. These varieties are harvested from June to February. One of the great challenges we face is maintaining crop supply to meet the pick-your-own demand. They will grow happily in a variety of containers and planters, horizontally, vertically, or even … Growing them yourself is incredibly rewarding, and home-grown strawberries are guaranteed to have far more flavour than the mass produced berries on shelves in supermarkets. Given the current COVID-19 situation we are all experiencing, Kiwiberry Australia would like to highlight some information on a study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences journal just the other day which has shown Myo-inositol (Vitamin B8), of which Kiwiberries are recognized as being the highest dietary source … Individual fruit will most likely ripen at different stages from December to mid-January, although some varieties can crop as late as March. The former has outstanding autumn colour, and the latter beautiful pale pink flowers just like a miniature rose. Blueberry Burst and Blueberry Kisses pruning can begin at the end of the first 12 months if plants have established well, as soon as fruiting is finished for the season. Plants should be grown in full sun with protection from strong winds. Because every season is blueberry season! I'll see you next time. Other production areas include WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania to provide almost year-round availability of blueberries. Other regions have increased plantings to take advantage of late and early season fruit, with the aim of having Australian blueberries available all year-round. Berry body responds to allegations of worker underpayment, Berry body calls for fast tracking of national labour hire licensing scheme, Berries Australia wins a 2020 SafeWork NSW Award. Retailers can have blueberries on their shelves within 24 hours of picking to enable consumers to buy, and enjoy, the freshest blueberries. Australian blueberries are supplied to wholesalers, independent fruit shops, supermarkets and international markets such as Asia and Europe. Local Australian almonds, happy eggs from Totally Free Range Eggs, butter from New Zealand, rum from @brixdistillers based in Surry Hills (NSW), organic sugar from @navitasorganics and the feves and crowns travelled from France > Japan > Australia. the blueberry is in season in Australia in July and most of August. How to Prune Blueberries: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow The season starts in December and ends in April. Friday 17th of April. The Australian blueberry industry has firm guidelines about fruit maturity at harvest; growers need to continually enforce this quality control during picking. (likely to be from December to March, depending on the variety) Purchase and plant bare-rooted plants from late autumn to spring. As a new industry, growers are keen to adopt industry best management practice. Applications of fish and seaweed fertilisers will assist with root health and will encourage strong growth during spring and post-harvest. For a more bountiful crop, plant two or more varieties. Blueberry harvesting season can be anywhere from late May through mid-August, depending upon the variety and your local climate. Over the last ten years much of the growth of the category has come from southern producers, strategically chasing higher prices that have traditionally been available during the commercial window left outside of North America's harvest. Remove flowers in the first years to encourage bush growth. Blueberries have a relatively short season in South Australia from December until February. Generally speaking, in Australia blueberry picking season is October to February but plants will fruit from July through to April. Growers redevelop blueberry beds when they are reaching the end of their lives. Berries retain gloss and colour when preserved. When berries are in season they are irresistibly juicy and a must to pick, but beware of the birds. Irrigation is necessary, particularly in summer. ‘Point of sale’ promotions, trade shows and farmer’s markets have provided a valuable opportunity for recruiting new consumers. One of the great challenges we face is maintaining crop supply to meet the pick-your-own demand. However, the short time interval between establishment and first returns coupled with high demand and reasonable prices will offset the high costs. tomatoes, eggplants, capsicum, berries and herbs such as basil. The Fresh. In packing sheds the fruit will be quickly chilled using force fans. In Australia, blueberries are sold in punnets (containers) but not by variety. Fruit: Apricot, banana, berries, cherries, fig, grapes, lime, lychee, mango, melons, nectarine, passionfruit, peaches, pineapples, plum 2. How to grow blueberries in a garden Numerous cultivars have been bred from these varieties such as Misty (Southern Highbush), Denise (Northern Highbush) and Powder Blue (Rabbiteye). Enjoy fresh berries, mangos and watermelons in your favorite summer recipes – ice pops for the kids are a great way to get their fruits in! They were first introduced to Australia in the late 1960s and there is now a thriving blueberry industry on the eastern coast and in cooler regions of Australia. A classic, all-time favourite fruit which is easy to grow in even the smallest of home gardens or urban spaces. As the northern hemisphere’s blueberry season comes to a close, the U.S. market welcomes blueberries from South America. Mid season: fruit produced in summer for 4 to 5 weeks followed by a small late autumn crop. We know blueberries are not a hard sell! Blueberries were first introduced into Australia in the early 1970s. Lowbush blueberries are not generally found in Australia. But just so you know… here are some super interesting facts about blueberries and why blueberries are so good for us. An application of 30gms (max) per plant of a slow release fertiliser at planting is advantageous. That was back in England, but I bet growing berries in Australia with children, would be pretty much the same. NSW produced around 70–75 per cent of the Australian crop in 2018. These varieties are harvested from June to February. Fresh Australian blueberries are available from July to April with the peak availability in October to February. Production and sales of these fruit are steadily increasing, reflecting global trends in berry crops (also known as soft fruit) and the interest in their benefits to human health. Pick your own blueberries at Mount Compass, South Australia. It is best to plant larger varieties with 1.2m between plants and 3 to 4m between rows. All fruit for the fresh market is hand-picked to maintain the highest quality. The table below shows when each fruit in the list is in season in Sydney and New South Wales. As the plants are surface rooted they respond well to a deep mulch of straw or chip. You can see our latest Tweets in the right hand column of our site or by visiting twitter.com/pyoblueberries. Many commented that while they enjoyed eating blueberries, they were too expensive to eat regularly. We find that we often need to close early or skip whole days or weeks when picking has been heavy, or the crop light, or the weather unfavourable for harvest. Bilberries – which are native to Europe – are different from North American blueberries, although the species are closely related and belong to the same genus, Vaccinium.Bilberry are non-climacteric fruits with a smooth, circular outline at the end opposite the stalk, whereas blueberries retain persistent sepals there, leaving a rough, star-shaped pattern of five flaps. Fresh blueberries compete with processed snack foods along with other fresh fruit. Wedding flowers by season in Australia. You can enjoy fresh blueberries year-round! When planting, tease out the roots over a handful of sphagnum moss placed in the planting position and plant at the same depth as it was potted. In a recent survey of consumers, 79% of those interviewed indicated that price was a major influence on their purchasing decision. These cultivars all have different characteristics, growing requirements and seasonal timing. Watering Blueberry plants have a shallow and really fibrous root system and do require regular watering throughout the growing season.They are simply not a drought-tolerant plant and will stop producing flowers and fruit if they are left to dry out. It pays to check our Twitter stream on the day you plan to visit our farm for our daily availability report. All Rights Reserved. Makes 11/2 cups (375 ml) Ingredients 3 cups (450 g) blueberries 1 cup (220 g) sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 4 strips (7.5 x 1 cm/3 x 1/2 inch) orange zest1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of salt … Highbush varieties can be broken down into either Southern Highbush or Northern Highbush. The strawberry industry is the most significant, blueberry intermediate and the various Rubus species smaller. Developing varieties suitable for mechanical harvesters and varieties that are well suited to Australian climatic conditions are ongoing goals. At present, according to the Hort Innovation Horticulture Statistics Handbook (2016/17), approximately 356 tonnes of blueberries were exported from Australia, with 47% of this fruit being sent to Hong Kong and the remainder being sent to markets including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Middle East, Canada and more recently India. By 1978 it was recognised that the warmer climate Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye varieties (originally grown in the southern states of America) would grow on the NSW North Coast and produce high value, early season fruit. The best news is that Australian Blueberries are in season right now (July – April here in Australia)! Otherwise, you can buy potted plants during the warmer months of the year for planting. Different methods of fruit sorting are used throughout Australia. | Login. Here, quality assurance programs are adopted to ensure the quality and freshness of the berries. Neighbourhood poultry know when is the right time to pick them as well. Three varieties of blueberry species have been identified; Highbush, Lowbush (wild) and Rabbiteye. Share Share. Blueberries have a relatively short season in South Australia from December until February. COVID-19 :: Berries Australia Resources & Updates, Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association. 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